Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, later known as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society (PAS), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, re-established 1787. Quaker abolitionist organization whose leaders were almost all Hicksites. They promoted a moderate approach to ending slavery in the United States. By the late 1830s, it supported education for Black children, hiring lawyers to prevent or thwart kidnapping by slave catchers, and to aid fugitive Blacks in the court system. (References)

See also Pennsylvania Abolition Society.

• Officers, members and supporters of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage

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Officers, Members and Supporters

Officers of the Society:

 

Franklin, Benjamin, President, co-founder. (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Benezet, Anthony, co-founder, Pennsylvania Abolition Society (PAS)

 

Rush, Dr. Benjamin, President, Secretary (Locke, 1901; Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787; Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)

 

Rawle, William, President, 1829, Counsellor (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787; Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)

 

Pemberton, James, Vice President (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Penrose, Jonathan, Vice President (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Patterson, Robert, Vice President, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Parker, Thomas, Vice President, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Preston, Jonas, Vice President, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Tucker, Benjamin, Vice President, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Coxe, Benjamin, Secretary (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Barton, Isaac, Secretary, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Ridgway, Thomas, Secretary, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Coxe, John, Counsellor (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Fisher, Miers, Councellor (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Lewis, William William, Counsellor (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Troth, Henry, Treasurer, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Bouvier, John, Esq. (Minutes of the Proceedings of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery)

 

Earle, Thomas, Esq. (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Mott, James (Minutes of the Proceedings of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery)

 

Phipps, Thomas, Treasurer, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Sheppard, Samuel C. (Minutes of the Proceedings of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery)

 

Smith, Nathan, Secretary, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Weatherly, David (Minutes of the Proceedings of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery)

 

Williams, Benjamin, Secretary, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Electing Committee, 1787:

 

Armatt, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Bailey, Francis, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Boys, Nathan, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Carson, Andrew, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Coates, Samuel, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)

 

Griffitts, Samuel Powell, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)

 

Harrison, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Jones, Norris, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Reed, James, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Richards, Samuel, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Rogers, William, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)

 

Shoemaker, Jacob, Jr., Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Todd, James, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)

 

Todd, John, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Warner, John, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Whitehall, James, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Wistar, Caspar, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)

 

Acting Committee:

 

McElhenney, William, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Oldden, John, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Parker, Thomas, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Shields, Thomas, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Warner, John, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Zane, William, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)

 

Counsellors, 1812:

 

Chapman, Abraham, Bucks, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Delany, William L., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Fisher, George, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Hallowell, Jno., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Hopkinson, Joseph, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Rush, Richard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Electing Committee, 1812:

 

Brown, William, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Harrison, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Kinsey, Edmund, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Hilyard, Abraham, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Master, William, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Moore, Joseph, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Pearson, Isaac, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Price, Joseph, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Phipps, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Rogers, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Smith, Samuel, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Townsend, Charles, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)

 

Board of Education, 1829:

 

Barton, Isaac, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Atlee, Edwin P., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Earle, Thomas, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Evans, Joseph, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Parker, Joseph, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Parker, Thomas, Jr., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Peterson, George, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Ridgway, Thomas, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Weatherly, David, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Wright, Peter, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Cope, Charles S., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Sheppard, Samuel C., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Wilson, James R., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Electing Committee, 1829:

 

Todhunter, Joseph, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Ross, Samuel, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Mott, James, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Truman, Joseph M., Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Atmore, Marshall, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Jones, William, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Stackhouse, Powell, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Murphy, Robert, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Evans, R., Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Stanly, Jesse, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Wood, D. C., Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

Walter, Edwin, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)

 

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References

(Dumond, 1961, pp. 46-47; Locke, 1901, pp. 91, 93, 94, 97, 98, 98n, 99, 100, 107-111, 127, 127f, 133, 141; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 25-26, 27; Yellin, 1994, p. 203; Zilversmit, 1967, pp. 159, 162-165, 173-174, 204-206, 207, 224; Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787; Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth and Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812, 1829)